Fansided

Lakers replace championship rings sold to help Ukraine war effort

By Scott Rogust

7 Feb 2001: A view of the 2000 Championship Ring of the Los Angeles Lakers taken during the game against the Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Suns 85-83. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport
7 Feb 2001: A view of the 2000 Championship Ring of the Los Angeles Lakers taken during the game against the Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Suns 85-83. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport /
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The Los Angeles Lakers gave Slava Medvedenko replacement NBA championship rings after he sold his originals to raise money to those affected in Ukraine by the war.

Last August, former Los Angeles Lakers player Slava Medvedenko sold his two NBA championship rings to help relief efforts to those in Ukraine effected by the war. Specifically, all proceeds went to his Fly High Foundation, and the funds would be used to help Ukrainian children that were affected by the war.

During a Lakers fan event on Tuesday, team president Jeanie Buss presented Medvedenko with two replacement championship rings after he sold his originals for charity.

Slava Medvedenko receives replacement NBA championship rings after selling originals to raise money for Ukraine war efforts

On Aug. 5, Medvedenko put his 2001 and 2002 NBA championship rings up for auction. SCP Auctions announced that each ring sold for $126,767, bringing the total amount raised to $253,534.

Specifically, the Fly High Foundation was created to help children in Ukraine and to “return physical activity to their daily lives through restoring the destroyed sports infrastructure of Ukrainians schools and launch a network of social sports clubs.”

In addition to raising money for Ukraine, Medvedenko served in Ukraine’s territorial defense forces, which is  reserves force for the country’s military.

Medvedenko joined the Lakers in 2000, and spent six seasons with the team. He was part of the 2001 and 2002 NBA championship teams led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in his first two years with the team. He last played for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2006-07 season.

In his six years with the Lakers, Medvedenko averaged 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds while recording a field goal percentage of 45.1.

After auctioning off his two championship rings to help the children of Ukraine, Medvedenko was rewarded with two replacements by Buss.

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